HOME DELIVERY 1300 361 604 SEDGER LEADING STATE CUP TILTS
Toowoomba talent set to feature in opening round
RUGBY LEAGUE: A pre-season of hard work and determination has lifted Hugh Sedger to new heights ahead of the opening round of the Intrust Super Cup season.
The second rower makes his return to the competition in style, after being named to make his Northern Pride debut at the weekend.
A premiership player with the Valleys Roosters in the TRL last season, Sedger has previous experience at this level with the Ipswich Jets in 2016.
After signing on as one of the top-25 contracted players, Sedger has worked his way into the team for the season opener.
“It’s a pretty surreal feeling,” Sedger said.
“It’s been a long and tough pre-season, and the competition for spots has been as hard as it could get.
“To come out with a starting position after that is surreal.”
While initially hoping to be chosen in the 17 line up at Barlow Park on Saturday, Sedger set himself the goal of cracking into the run-on squad.
“It has been one of my goals, and it is one of everyone’s main goals, which makes it such a competitive group,” he said.
“I would’ve been happy anywhere in the 17, but to run on in such a talented side, especially with a few of the full-time (North Queensland) Cowboys players coming back this weekend, is good for my confidence.”
Pride coach Ty Williams will be looking for the back rower to terrorise opposition defences on the fringes.
Sedger said his ball-playing skills would also be called on, and credits Valleys coach and former NRL first grader Brett Seymour in helping him improve that facet of his game.
“The main focus of my preseason has been my defence and line running, as well as fitness, and with our strength and conditioning coach I’ve had the tools to do that,” he said.
“Ty has got us playing a bit more of an expansive style of football that suits a ball-playing back rower.
“That type of role suits me down to the ground. I love get-
ting my hands on the ball and changing it up a bit.
“Brett has been there and done that in his football career, and he knew what he was talking about.
“We’ve set the goal to be the most physical team and have the best scramble defence in the comp, and we need to start by doing that straight away, and make teams not want to come up to Cairns to play.”
Saturday night’s fixture will have a further Toowoomba flavour, with former Southern Suburbs junior Cory Paix named to make his state league debut for the Redcliffe Dolphins.
Paix impressed for the Broncos in two pre-season trial matches, including scoring a try in Warwick.
Brisbane and incumbent Queensland hooker Andrew McCullough said it was up to the young halfback to take the chances in front of him.
“His locker is next to mine, and he’s finding out what it’s like to train regularly and put himself in that position,” McCullough said.
“He’s only going to be better for the run in the pre-season, and he will have those opportunities down the track in the next year or two if he keeps working hard.”
Valleys junior Gerome Burns will also run-out onto the field for round one after being listed at fullback for the Souths Logan Magpies to take on the Central Queensland Capras on Sunday.
The Ipswich Jets will feature former TRL players Michael Purcell, Ben White and Mitchell Carpenter in the 17, while Highfields flyer Denzel Burns was named on an extended bench.
Wandoan’s Sam Scarlett will line up at halfback for Wynnum Manly in their game on the Sunshine Coast.